Opponents Of Putting Train Station In Ann Arbor Park Develop Concept For New Station At Current Site

A group opposed to Ann Arbor using parkland for a new train station has developed a concept to keep the Amtrak facility on Depot Street.

Credit Andrew Cluley / 89.1 WEMU

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89.1 WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports on a concept for a new Ann Arbor train station at the current Amtrak location.

The Ann Arbor Station Environmental Review has trimmed the list of potential sites to three. This includes the controversial Fuller Road site, a stretch of track between North Main and Argo Pond, and the existing station site.

Rita Mitchell is a member of Protect A2 Parks which has been opposed to a station in Fuller Park for years. Mitchell says their plan calls for a station built on stilts over the tracks. This would allow passengers to get on the train from Depot Street, the Broadway Bridges, or a parking lot on the north side of the tracks.

Mitchell is hopeful the current station site will ultimately be chosen, but disagrees with the initial review of sites that scored the Fuller Road site highest.

The station review is expected to identify a preferred site by the end of the year.

A group of parents, union members, and others in the community continue to object to Ann Arbor Public Schools plan to outsource custodial work. Earlier this month the school board accepted a bid from GCA Services that will reduce custodial costs by $2 million annually.

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89.1 WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports on community members still protesting Ann Arbor Public Schools decision to outsource custodial work.

How will Ann Arbor's next mayor take on the challenges around the city's always changing downtown? That will be among the primary topics discussed Wednesday night at a mayoral debate hosted by Literati Bookstore.

Ann Arbor teachers are voting on an agreement that will freeze wages for next school year. The deal was reached after the district announced they would cancel the entire teachers contract if necessary to hold salaries flat.

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89.1 WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports on Ann Arbor teachers considering an agreement that will hold their salaries flat in the fall.